Agriculture Week 1 Introduction to Agriculture January 2022

Introduction to Agriculture

- Agriculture deals with the growing of crops and trees, raising of livestock, use and care of soils,
use and care of farm equipment and machinery.
- Agriculture is an important activity as it provides food, clothes, fuel, employment and sometimes
foreign currency.

The branches of Agriculture

There are 5 branches of agriculture and these are:

1. Crop Production - This branch deals with the production of crops and ornamental plants.
Crops include field crops and garden crops. Field crops include, for example, maize, sorghum,
millet and wheat. Garden crops include, for example, tomatoes, spinach and egg plant.
Ornamental plants are ones that are used for decorative purposes, for example, flowers.

2. Animal Production/Husbandry - This is the breeding and management of animals. The

animals maybe domestic (like chickens, pigs, goats, cows etc) or maybe wild (like buffalo or
ostriches). Management of wild animals is called ranching. Animals are kept for their meat,
eggs, feathers etc. Tourists may also pay to view them.

3. Soil Science - this deals with the management of soils. Soil provides plants with nutrients and
5) Agricultural Economics
minerals. Soil must be protected from pollution and looked after to maintain fertility.

4. Agricultural
Economics Engineering
is related to money.-Farming
This branch
is a deals with the
business, so itcaring
should of make
farm machinery, tools, farm(an
a profit. Economists
buildings, water supplies and irrigation. Machinery makes farming on a large scale easier.
expert in economics), help farmers to plan their ______________________ and keep records of
5. Agricultural Economics - This branch deals with the business aspect of agriculture. Farmers
profitmust be able
and loss. to use
These resourcesadvise
economists such as money,on
farmers seed, fertilisers
crops andmake
which will pesticides
them correctly, so that
a ____________.
they make a profit. This is called farm management. Farmers must sell their produce at good
prices,
This is this isbecause
important called marketing.
the farmer will be able to pay for all of his _________________ and

have extra money to continue farming next season.

Summary

The 5 branches of agriculture are important because they help farmers improve crop and livestock

production. The crop production branch carries out research on crop improvement. The animal

production branch provides services on livestock health and improvement. Soil science provides

information plant nutrition, while agricultural economics branch provides financial services and crop

profitability.

Answer the questions below (pg 9 Exercise A Q1, 2, 3)

1. The table below shows branches of Agriculture. Fill in the activities of each branch. Branches 3

and 5 have been filled in for you.

Branches of Agriculture Activities 1 of 2

1. Crop Production
 Agriculture Week 1 Introduction to Agriculture January 2022

Exercise

(Highlight or circle the correct answer)

5) Agricultural Economics

Economics is related to money. Farming is a business, so it should make a profit. Economists (an

expert in economics), help farmers to plan their ______________________ and keep records of

profit and loss. These economists advise farmers on crops which will make them a ____________.

This is important because the farmer will be able to pay for all of his _________________ and

have extra money to continue farming next season.

Summary

The 5 branches of agriculture are important because they help farmers improve crop and livestock

production. The crop production branch carries out research on crop improvement. The animal

production branch provides services on livestock health and improvement. Soil science provides

information plant nutrition, while agricultural economics branch provides financial services and crop

profitability.

Answer the questions below (pg 9 Exercise A Q1, 2, 3)

1. The table below shows branches of Agriculture. Fill in the activities of each branch. Branches 3

and 5 have been filled in for you.

Branches of Agriculture Activities

1. Crop Production
2. Animal Production

3. Soil Science Plant Nutrients

4. Agricultural engineering

5. Agricultural economics Crop Selection

2. Which branch of agriculture helps farmers to produce better maize yields?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Which branch of agriculture is responsible for tillage of land?

2 of 2
______________________________________________________________________________